Supply SOLAR power to 77 families in Qinghai

Project outcomes:

1. 59 selected families received 59 solar panels. Due to falling short of the funding goals, this was fewer than the planned 77 families;
2. Solar panels have lightened the burden of collecting bushes to burn and collecting dung for fuel;
3. It will reducd the health hazards of smoke and carbon dioxide inhalation from decreased fires inside the houses;
4. Helps to reduce the damage on eyesight created by the poor lighting of candles for long periods of time;
5. Helps to preserve the remaining forests from destruction as less bushes are needed to be collected to burn;
6. Families will start to save money by not needing to purchase candles or cores; and
7. Children are able to attend school as parents now have extra money to help with school fees and transport and children spend less time collecting wood.

Delays and difficulties:

No delays or difficulties were experienced with project implementation thanks to great local coordination.

Unfortunately, our funding goal was not achieved, so a smaller scale project was implemented.  However, close of 80% of families were able to be assisted in the end thanks to an emergency grant from Captivating International.

Our thanks:

Our thanks to Rod Durand from Apple for helping us get started with the Apple gift matching program and with GlobalGiving. We are hopeful that this first project demonstrates our capability and focus on getting real results in place efficiently and effectively.  Our thanks also to those who financially supported this project.

Attached is our Implementation Report from our field staff, along with receipts supporting all major expenditues.  This project will be received/audited again in 12 months to ensure solar panels are still working and meeting project outcomes. 

Links:

• Captivating BLOG stories including this Solar Panel project

• Solar Panel Implementation Report - Dec 2015 (PDF)
  

We are getting close to the proposed implementation date for this project (end of September).  Due to winter closing in at any time, supply and installation of the 77 solar panels will need to take place within the next month.  

All preparatory work has been completed and our project team now wait for funding to get started.  First stage is purchase of the solar panels. An update today from our Program Manager indicates that recipient families are eager to receive their panels and the relief this will immediately bring.  

To date, we are signfiicantly short of our funding target.  However, we had been informed that a donor is willing to match dollar-for-dollar any contributions made to ensure this project is accomplished. So, this effectively halves our funding goal.  If you know of friends or work colleagues able to assist with us getting this project over the line, we know 77 families and their children who will be extremely grateful.  

Thanks again for your support to date.